In the early stages of his career, lightweight Rob Emerson struggled to get his body firing on all cylinders. A heavy-handed striker with solid takedown defense, Emerson always felt confident in his abilities, yet couldn’t seem to sync his mind and body. For whatever reason, the California native did not fight with the same intensity in the ring as he did when training in the gym.
After being selected to compete in The Ultimate Fighter 5 show last year, Emerson was hopeful that the high-intensity experience would enable him to break through this barrier. Simply put, he thought that training in the UFC environment would spark him to better performances inside the cage.
While he did vastly improve his physical skills and techniques as a cast member on the show, Emerson believes that the most useful piece of information gained from TUF 5 came far from the mats and heavy bags at the UFC training facility. Outside the sweaty confines of the gym, the 26-year-old recalls a conversation with his coach, lightweight champion BJ Penn. The Hawaiian sensation told Emerson that he too went through a tough period in which he wondered if he could ever feel complete inside the cage. Like Emerson, Penn struggled to get his mind and body on the same page.
“He (Penn) said that his body wasn’t physically ready,” Emerson said, adding that despite the success he achieved early on in his career, Penn still felt as if he needed time to develop. “He had to get his body to a point where he could do what we wanted to do as a fighter.
“That made a lot of sense to me as a fighter. For some reason, I’m a different fighter in the gym than in the cage. I’m trying to make that transition.”
That transition continues on August 9 when Emerson battles fellow TUF 5 competitor Manny Gamburyan (10-3) at UFC 87. Fresh off a victory over Keita Nakamura at UFC 81, Emerson is training hard to prove that he can bang with the best the lightweight division has to offer. He is also mentally preparing himself to fight with the same fire inside the Octagon as he does in his California training camp. To Emerson, the blend of physical and mental conditioning is paramount.
“I still don’t think I’ve performed up to half of my potential,” Emerson said. “And it starts with conditioning. At this level, you are supposed to know jiu-jitsu, boxing, and everything else. That’s what makes this sport what it is today. The pace of the fights today are so much faster and more explosive than they were even five years ago. The fights are getting better and conditioning is number one.
“It’s all about conditioning,” Emerson repeated. “Sometimes I kick back in the cage and start thinking about sucking wind and catching my breath. I allow myself to kick back. That’s when negative thoughts creep in.”
Emerson (9-6, 1 no contest) realizes he won’t have much time to think negatively against Gamburyan. Despite standing just 5’5, the judo expert works quickly and uses overpowering takedowns and throws to ground opponents. Once grounded, Gamburyan prefers to work inside an opponent’s guard where he can land devastating, potentially fight-stopping bombs.
For Emerson, the best way to stymie Gamburyan is by outworking him on the feet and stifling his takedown attempts. Boasting a four-inch height advantage, Emerson plans to throw leather and rattle the eight-time junior national judo champion. Thanks to intense wrestling and jiu-jitsu training sessions, Emerson has no qualms about going to the mat either.
“I’m going to push it on the feet,” Emerson, who also serves as an instructor at No Limits MMA in Irvine, CA, said. “I know his game plan is to go for the takedown and look to fight on the fence. But I’ve focused a lot on jiu-jitsu since my last fight and I’ve been working off of my back to get comfortable. Doing so is making my stand-up even better. It’s making me more aggressive on my feet because I’m not worried about the takedown.”
With a blueprint for success in place, Emerson believes that he also has a psychological advantage in the fight because of the history between the two. After grappling with Gamburyan during TUF 5 tryouts, Emerson said he frustrated the Armenian by stopping numerous single-leg takedown attempts. Given that takedowns are such a big part of Gamburyan’s offense, Emerson wonders if his opponent will lack confidence when attempting to take the fight to the ground. In essence, he wonders if he is inside the head of “The Anvil.”
“Prior the (TUF 5) show, we did go against each other in the tryouts and he couldn’t take me down,” Emerson said. “I think that got to him.
“I think he knows that I’m a bad matchup for him style-wise. He’s a little ball of muscle. He overpowers a lot of guys with his strength, but he’s going to have a tough time doing that with me. I have a good takedown defense and he won’t be able to just shoot in. I’m looking to throw hands and fight an offensive fight the whole time.”
“Manny’s style is not that exciting,” Emerson continued. “He likes to lay and pray, sit heavy in the guard and grind out a three-round decision. I’m going to bang him from the feet and look for elbows and big shots. We are going to see what type of chin Manny has. I don’t think he’ll be able to handle my power come August 9th. I don’t think this fight is going to go three rounds.”
In the end, Emerson feels rejuvenated heading into UFC 87. For the first time in his six-year professional career, Emerson’s body and mind are working together harmoniously.
After fighting the likes of Jens Pulver, Melvin Guillard, and Dokonjonosuke Mishima early on, Emerson believes that his body is finally ready to endure the rigors of world-class mixed martial arts. Rob Emerson has all the tools. He has all the talent. Now, Rob Emerson feels like he can fight in the cage like he does in the gym.
“BJ Penn told me that fortune favors the bold,” Emerson said. “That statement has been a big motivator for me. God gave me this opportunity and I want to make the most of it. I don’t want to have any regrets when I finish my career. It’s been motivating as hell to see guys like BJ and Forrest Griffin win world titles. It shows that when you put your heart into it, you can get to where you want to be. Right now, I’m happy with where I’m heading.”
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